Notice...Rosscarbery Surf, Turf 'n' Tar Half-Marathon & 10k - Sat 19th May 2018

This Half-Marathon & 10k in Rosscarbery in West Cork is coming up on Saturday the 19th of May 2018. This proved to be a very popular event last year and should get a lot of interest this year as well.

As races go, this one looks pretty stunning as it takes in the roads, beaches, woods and coastal trails near the town.

Registration
Last Minute Registrations :
1. Message us here : https://www.facebook.com/rosscarberysurfturfntar/
2. Walk-In registrations  @CelticRossHotel on Friday : 6pm to 9pm
3. Saturday Morning : 7am to 8am before the race at The Celtic Ross.
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Half-Marathon... Finisher medal & dry fit top... 9am start... €35

10km... Finisher medal & Buff... 9:15am start... €25

Entry link >> http://rosscarbery10kandhalfmarathon.itsyourrace.com

More info below from the organisers...Second Rosscarbery Surf, Turf ‘n’ Tar, takes place May 19th!
Following on from a successful first year of Rosscarbery Surf Turf ‘n’ Tar Half Marathon and 10K race, this year’s event takes place on May 19th at 9am. 

Last year saw 420 runners/walkers take part in this unique  multi terrain race ! This year the organisers hope to make it bigger and better taking onboard all the comments (positive and otherwise) on board). It was the most talked about West Cork Running Event in 2018, and the organisers are expecting a large entry for this year’s event!

Set in beautiful Rosscarbery and surrounding area, participants are offered a unique running experience over two distances, Half Marathon and 10K. This multi terrain race runs over beach, road, forest and trail Runs.

The Race
The Half Marathon race starts at 9am and the 10K starts 15 minutes later! This year the race will encompass the Causeway, starting by the Celtic Ross Hotel (Race HQ), down the Warren Road and then proceed over the Cliff Walk into Owenahincha, where participants will run through Owenahincha and make their way to Castlefreke Estate. By kind permission of Stephen Evans Freke, all participants will run through the Castle grounds, alongside the Castle. 

Half-Marathon

The 10k race goers will loop around the castle and return to Rosscarbery via the Cliff Walk and Finish by crossing the estuary via a Pontoon onto the Pier Road.  The Half Marathon route leaves the castle grounds and enters wood trails recently completed by Coillte which include Ladies Walk and Kilkern Lake! 

10k

 The runners then take on the Long Strand, extending just over one mile of beach running and then onto the trail leading to Lord Carbery Cross where they can see out to the Galley Head and look back on the challenging beach run they have just completed. The race then goes back via the Castle, through Owenahincha, running the beach, over the Cliff Walk and across the Warren Strand and across the estuary via the pontoon and finish on The Pier Road adjacent to the Hotel.

The pontoon was a real novelty last year, especially amongst locals. The pontoon was erected by the Civil Defense Team as part of a training exercise, and to facilitate extra participants, it will be bigger this year!

Rosscarbery Surf Turf ‘n’ Tar offers spectacular views and a unique opportunity to get up close and personal with the Wild Atlantic Way! Every mile brings a new experience under foot and ever changing vistas!

This is a chip timed event! 

Bib pick up will be available in Celtic Ross Hotel on Friday 18th of May and on the morning of the event from 7am! 

To maximise the enjoyment and ensure safety of all involved, the organisers have limited places to 1,000. Anyone eager to take part is urged to register as soon as possible to avoid disappointment!

Race Organisers and Sponsors
The Race is organised by Rosscarbery Business Association in conjunction with Rosscarbery Steam Runners AC. This is a not for profit event and all proceeds will go back into Rosscarbery Community, to enhance amenities and promote the area! The proceeds from last year’s event financed a new community website for Rosscarbery, contributed to the ‘Light up Rosscarbery’ Christmas Campaign and other smaller projects.

The race organisers would like to thank The Celtic Ross Hotel, What’s on in West Cork and the Freke Family for supporting and sponsoring  this event. Others sponsors include Kinetica, Rosscarbery Recipes, Bushby’s Strawberries, Lisavaird Co-Op, Clona Dairies.

Last year’s event was a huge success, which was largely down to the buy-in and support of the Rosscarbery people – clubs and groups offered their services in terms of stewarding, raising publicity, helping in the post-race clean up as well as taking part in the races themselves! We are living in a beautiful place and an event like this shows it off to the rest of the world! We hope to put Rosscarbery on the map in terms of a running location , a food lover’s dream and a beautiful place to visit and stay!

Other Race Info
As well as getting to run in one of the most beautiful spots in Ireland and complete the Rosscarbery Challenge, all participants will get a Surf Turf ‘n’ Tar Finisher Medal and Finisher Chocolate (handmade by the Clonakilty Cocoa Co.).  Last year’s medal was made from Chocolate and along with participant feedback and online polls – it was decided to give finishers both a real medal and a chocolate - #keepeveryonehappy!  There is a Technical Top for all Half Marathon and 10K participants.

There will be post-race refreshments in the Celtic Ross Hotel, showcasing all local produce from the Rosscarbery Area! Participants will also have use of the Leisure Centre in the Hotel. Expect to taste delicious Rosscarbery Strawberries, the award-winning puddings from Rosscarbery Recipes and other locally sourced tastings. 

Make this a weekend away with special rates available in the Celtic Ross Hotel, Celtic Cottages and the guesthouses and Bed and Breakfasts in and around Rosscarbery along with a host of private self-catering options! A full list of accommodation along with other information can be found on the website https://surfturfntar.com/! Stay around and enjoy the fabulous restaurants, traditional pubs and hospitality that Rosscarbery has to offer!

Contact:
Media & Event enquires: Fiona Calnan 087 9256029 email: info@rosscarberychallenge.com
Run organisers: Geoff Wycherley 087 2220467; Paul Melody 087 7699995

Background to the run: In October 2011, a plaque was unveiled in honour of TJ O’ Mahony aka The Rosscarbery Steam Engine in Rosscarbery town square. TJ O’Mahony was GAA Irish Champion in the quarter-mile (400 metres) in 1885, 1887 and 1888 and Irish Amateur Athletics Association (IAAA) champion in 1886, before grabbing all the positive headlines as part of the GAA’s ‘Gaelic Invasion’ tour of the USA in 1888, when some of the country’s finest hurlers and track and field athletes were dispatched to promote Gaelic sports in America. O’Mahony was unbeaten on the tour and won the American Championship 400 metres title as part of it.

In 2015, Rosscarbery Steam Runners AC was formed, taking its name from the Steam Engine himself! The club is going from strength to strength with approx. 90 members honouring the legacy of TJ O’Mahony and the tradition of running in the town.

Rosscarbery Business Assocaition members recognised all that Rosscarbery has to offer and in partnership with Rosscarbery Steam Runners AC, Rosscarbery Surf Turf ‘n’ Tar offers race goers and
supporters alike, the opportunity to experience Rosscarbery in all its glory.